The
gentle cruise to the Phoenix International Raceway took in
heavy traffic, and a troupe of Superleggeras did nothing to
help the locals’ road manners. Thumbs-up, camera phones
and awe-inspired stares were the order of the day and the
whole 70km trip along the Interstate was spent avoiding those
that strayed just a little too close.
It was understandable. The Gallardo is, in my
opinion, the most beautiful super sports car on the road today,
with razor sharp lines that simply blow the more organic Ferrari
F430 off the road. The aggressive, cab-forward design gives
the Gallardo a pure sense of purpose and without the excessive
reek of testosterone that trails the Murcielago around, the
Gallardo might just have been the sexiest super sports car
in the world – until the Superleggera came along. The
extras are minimal touches, but they give the Gallardo a hint
of the night.
Expensive carbon-fiber festoons the exterior,
lightweight polycarbonate has replaced glass at every available
opportunity, and visible carbon-fiber air intakes, side sills,
door mirrors and other accoutrements join forces with an optional
fixed rear wing to add even more menace to the edgy design.
The carbon is left unpainted, and although you’re unlikely
to feel the few grams’ difference out on the road –
and this is more about the visual impact – you can never
be too sure…
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